The National Council’s standing committee on education, science, ICT and youth development found after evaluating the state of community hostels countrywide that the majority are in a perilous state.

Uncemented mud floors, non-functioning ablution facilities, the absence of adequate spaces, shortage of water supply and sanitation, lack of basic food supplies, corrugated iron zinc structures with no flooring, worn-out mattresses and blankets sum up the dire state in which most government-subsidised community hostels find themselves.

The National Council’s (NC) investigation in the 14 political regions was carried out between March and September 2022.

At the heart of the major findings by the committee was the shortage at community hostels across the country.

“It was found that these hostels are overcrowded, have a shortage of beds and mattresses, resulting in learners having to share beds or mattresses, while some community hostels have worn-out mattresses that are no longer suitable for use,” the committee found.

In addition, some hostels are made from traditional building materials such as stones and mud, which compromises the safety of learners.

“The situation was noted as a major contributor to high teenage pregnancies among girls, and also school dropouts and substance abuse as many of these learners are forced to rent in nearby villages with no parental supervision,” they found.

In some instances, learners only eat one meal a day, and at times go to bed on an empty stomach.

The learners mainly survive on maize meal porridge.

“The learners are forced to collect firewood and take turns to cook for themselves, losing out on learning and resting time, which may have lasting negative effects on their educational performance.

“Moreover, this situation puts their lives at risk of being attacked by wild animals or being bitten by snakes,” the committee lamented.

The education ministry, however, also expressed concern over some community hostels, while it believes some claims are not genuine.

The ministry expressed concern and maintained that communities have no capacity to manage the hostels. 

“Some communities set up these facilities for business purposes, without any consideration of the well-being of the learners. The ministry stressed that, oftentimes, communities establish community hostels, only to expect the government to take over the management of these hostels,” reads another part of the report.  

The committee also found inconsistencies in the implementation of the ministerial policy and guidelines in the administration of government-subsidised hostels.

Chiefly, it was established that most visited community hostels remain unregistered, as they could not obtain fitness certificates.

A fitness certificate is a prerequisite for a hostel to, among others, have a proper kitchen structure with storage facilities, a dining hall, and functioning ablution facilities.

“However, there are hostels that do not meet the set requirements, but are registered and receive government subsidies. In addition, some of the hostels receive a government subsidy beyond the capacity of the hostel, which is contrary to the provisions of the guidelines,” the committee stated.  

The community hostel policy has other shortcomings.

It is not comprehensively sufficient, as it “leaves out important elements such as setting the ideal structure of hostel workers, and lacks clear guidance on what the hostel establishment should charge in respect of parental contributions.”

The ministry, it was found, is unaware of the majority of these ambiguities, as most of the functions have been decentralised to regional levels.

It was recommended that regional education directorates monitor the implementation of the policy in earnest.

The community hostel policy was conceptualised in 2004.

In essence, a community hostel refers to an initiative by rural communities to establish informal accommodation close to a school.

They are run and managed by school boards on the community’s behalf.

“The main objective of such an initiative is to provide accommodation to mainly children of marginalised communities or families, farmworkers and other children who cannot easily access education because of long distances and poor home conditions,” the policy states.

To sustain a hostel, a school board charges a nominal fee, which should not be charged in a way that excludes those unable to afford.

“The Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture will pay a subsidy to the community hostels to sustain their operations, pending the availability of funds,” it reads further.

“The management of a community hostel should ensure that the hostel boarders have adequate supply of food in such hostels. Where possible, learners should be engaged in gardening activities.”

-emumbuu@nepc.com.na